2019 Sky Blue FC season
The 2019 Sky Blue FC season is the team's tenth season as a professional women's soccer team. Sky Blue FC plays in the National Women's Soccer League, the top tier of women's soccer in the United States.
Since the 2018 Sky Blue finished in last place and only won one game, 2019 offered opportunities for improvement. The off-season didn't get off to a promising start as two of the team's top draft picks, Hailie Mace and Julia Ashley chose not to sign with the club. Mace signed with FC Rosengård and Ashley with Linköpings FC. Sky Blue's third and fourth picks, Paige Monaghan and Julie James did however choose to come to preseason and were ultimately signed. During preseason training two Sky Blue players suffered season-ending injuries. Defender Mandy Freeman ruptured her Achilles tendon and midfielder Madison Tiernan tore her ACL and MCL.
On April 9, 2019 General Manager and President Tony Novo resigned from his position, Sky Blue Vice-President Alyse LaHue was appointed to take over as interim general manager. Kyra Carusa, Sky Blue's 19th overall pick in the 2019 Draft signed with Le Havre AC in France on April 25th, making her the third Sky Blue draft pick to sign in Europe.
On June 28th, Denise Reddy was fired as the team's head coach. Her record as head coach was 1-8-24. Goalkeeper coach Hugo Macedo filled in on a temporary basis until the club named Freya Coombe interim head coach on September 4.
Sky Blue played their first ever game at Red Bull Arena on August 18th against Reign FC. They set a club record with 9,415 in attendance for the game, which finished in a 1–1 draw. The positive feedback and high demand led the club to move their September 29th home finale to Red Bull Arena, where they drew 8,314 for a 1–1 draw against the Orlando Pride.
Team
First-team roster
As of July 19, 2019Competitions
Preseason
Regular season
Regular season standings
Results summary
Results by round
Statistical leaders
Top scorers
Top assists
Shutouts
Player transactions
[2019 NWSL College Draft]
Round | Pick | Player | Previous Team | ||
Round 1 | 2 | ![]() | F | UCLA | |
Round 1 | 6 | ![]() | D | University of North Carolina | |
Round 2 | 10 | ![]() | F | Butler University | |
Round 2 | 11 | ![]() | M | Baylor University | |
Round 3 | 19 | ![]() | F | Georgetown University | |
Round 4 | 28 | ![]() | G | University of Florida | |
Round 4 | 29 | ![]() | M | Rutgers University | |
Round 4 | 34 | ![]() | D | University of Notre Dame |
In
Date | Player | Positions played | Previous club | Fee/notes | Ref. |
January 10, 2019 | ![]() | DF | Washington Spirit | Acquired in Trade with the Washington Spirit for the 3rd Overall Pick in the 2019 NWSL College Draft | |
January 10, 2019 | ![]() | GK | Washington Spirit | Acquired in Trade with the Washington Spirit for the 3rd Overall Pick in the 2019 NWSL College Draft | |
January 10, 2019 | ![]() | DF | Washington Spirit | Acquired in Trade with the Washington Spirit for the 3rd Overall Pick in the 2019 NWSL College Draft | |
January 14, 2019 | ![]() | FW | Reign FC | Acquired in Trade with Reign FC in exchange for Shea Groom | |
April 10, 2019 | ![]() | MF | ![]() | Signed. | |
May 7, 2019 | ![]() | DF | ![]() | Signed. | |
June 11, 2019 | ![]() | MF | North Carolina Courage | Acquired in a trade with the North Carolina Courage in exchange for McKenzie Meehan | |
July 19, 2019 | ![]() | MF | ![]() | Signed. |
Out
Date | Player | Positions played | Destination club | Fee/notes | Ref. |
November 14, 2018 | ![]() | DF | ![]() | Signed with Klepp IL in Norway. | |
November 20, 2018 | ![]() | DF | ![]() | Signed with Avaldsnes IL in Norway. | |
January 9, 2019 | ![]() | FW | Chicago Red Stars | Traded to the Chicago Red Stars in exchange for the 6th overall pick in the 2019 NWSL College Draft and the highest second-round pick in 2020. | |
January 12, 2019 | ![]() | DF | Retired | ||
January 14, 2019 | ![]() | FW | Reign FC | Traded to Reign FC in exchange for Nahomi Kawasumi | |
March 8, 2019 | ![]() | GK | Retired | ||
June 11, 2019 | ![]() | FW | North Carolina Courage | Traded to the North Carolina Courage in exchange for Elizabeth Eddy. | |
June 19, 2019 | ![]() | FW | Chicago Red Stars | Traded to the Chicago Red Stars in exchange for a First and Second Round draft pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft | |
July 14, 2019 | ![]() | MF | Released | ||
July 19, 2019 | ![]() | MF | ![]() | Released |
Awards
[NWSL Team of the Month]
Month | Goalkeeper | Defenders | Midfielders | Forwards | Ref |
April | ![]() | ||||
July | ![]() |